Bayern set to part ways with Hitzfeld</p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> MUNICH (AFP) - Bayern Munich are almost certain to part with their Champions League-winning coach Ottmar Hitzfeld at the end of the season, according to reports in the German press on Friday. Hitzfeld, 58, has been in discussions to take over as the coach of Switzerland's national team after June's Euro 2008 tournament and Bayern are recruiting a coach for next season, report tabloid newspaper Bild. According to the report, chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and general manager Uli Hoeness are scouting for talent to replace Hitzfeld, who won the Champions League with Bayern in 2001 having already lifted the trophy with Borussia Dortmund in 1997. After Bayern sacked previous coach Felix Magath, Hitzfeld returned in February and won praise for forging a strong unit with eight new players in the first-team following a 69 million euro summer spending spree. His contract expires next summer and relations between Hitzfeld and Rummenigge became frosty when the coach made several late substitutions in the UEFA Cup draw against Bolton Wanderers in November which led to the English forcing an equalisier. Since then, league leaders Bayern have struggled for form and have won just two of their last six league games hence enquiries have been made about suitable replacements for Hitzfeld, said Bild. A German-speaking coach is being sought by Hoeness and Rummenigge with Dutch national coach Marco van Basten and Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard having been linked to the job. Hitzfeld replaced previous coach Felix Magath in February and won praise for moulding a strong unit after eight new players came into the first-team following a 69-million-euro spending spree.</div></p>
